Hermetically sealed casket



June 21, 1932. E. G. JENKINS HERMETICALLY SEALED CASKET Filed Dec. 19, 1929 54/91 5 Jew/mm:

Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES EARL G. JENKINS, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA HERMETIGALLY SEALED CASKET Application filed December 19, 1929. Serial No. 415,190.

This invention relates to hermetically sealed burial caskets.

One object of this invention is to provide a casket having a cover which may be sealed V, in place by means of fusible metal.

Another object is to provide a casket having heating means associated therewith in such a manner as to heat the meeting edges of the casket and its associated cover, and

simultaneously fuse a sealing material therebetween, in order to create continuous uniform adhesion of the sealing material to the casket and cover.

Another object is to arrange a heating and sealing means in a casket and cover in an inconspicuous manner so as not to detract from the appearance thereof.

Another object is to provide a casket with sealing means incorporated wholly therewith- 130 -;in so as to require no additional parts or de tachable tools to complete the sealing operation, with the exception of an electrical conductor.

In the accompanying drawing which illus- :trates a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the casket with the cover removed;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the cover of the casket;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view of the joint between the cover and the casket before the same is sealed;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 after the casket has been sealed;

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view of the cover showing the terminals of the heating element;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the 4P casket with the cover sealed in place.

Referring to the drawing, the casket 10 is constructed of sheetmetal or other suitable material and is provided at its open side with 11 for the reception of the lower edge of the cover. r Fusible metal or other suitable sealing material is positioned in the channel 12. Preferably the sealing material is in the form of a strip 13 of solder, having a core of suitable flux, sealed to the bottom of the channel and extending entirely around the casket.

An inner sealing cover 14 is formed at its edges with a peripheral bead 15 arranged to fit within the channel 12, the bead being cut away at one end of the cover as indicated at 16. A heating element 17, which may be a high resistance electrical conductor of any suitable form, is disposedwithin the bead 15 and insulated therefrom by means of asbestos or other non-inflammable material 18. Projecting terminals 19 of any conventional type are secured to the opposite ends of the heating element 17 and project outwardly through the cut away portion 16. The terminals 19. are arranged to cooperate with an ordinary extension cord or other conductor through which the heating element may be connected to a source of electric current. VVhenit is desired to seal the casket, the cover 14 is placed thereon with the bead 15 resting upon the sealing material 13 in the bottom of the groove 12. When an electric current is caused to flow through the heating element 17 the latter becomes incandescent and the head 15 is heated. The heat of the head is radiated to the walls of the channel 12 and is conducted to the sealing material 13. When the temperature reaches the proper 7 80V point, the sealing material 13 melts and the weight of the cover 14: causes the same to flow upwardly in the channel 12 on both. sides of the head 15. The sealing material 13 also flows along the channel 12 and compensates for an y irregularities in the channel or the bead to form a perfect seal throughout the periphery of the cover.

In order to form a oint with fusible metal, it is necessary that the members to be joined 0Q together be heated to a temperature at or near the melting point of the fusible metal to avoid chilling the same before a bond is formed. Since the heating element 17 is enclosed within the head which forms one of the members of the joint, the temperature of the bead is necessarily greater than the temperature of the fusible metal at any time during the heating operation. By direct radiation and by conduction through the fusible metal 13 the channel 12 is heated to substantially the same temperature as the bead. An effective bond is thereby produced between the casket and the cover when the current has solidified and adhered to the'casket and cover.

In the event it is desired to reopenthecasket after the same has been sealed, the terminals been cut off and the melted fusible metal has 1 The invention is particularly applicable to burial caskets, but it is not'necessarily lim-' ited to the same, as any type'of casket or container may be provided with the improved sealing means.

Although the foregoing description if necessarily of a detailed character in order that a the invention may be fully set forth, it is to be understood that modifications and rearheat of the head of said cover may be transferred directly to said fusible sealing material to fuse the same and permit the bead of said cover to press downwardly through the fused sealing material substantially into contact with the groove in said casket and transfer heat directly to the line of contact therebetween.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 13th day of December, 1929.

EARL G. JENKINS.

rangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims:

I claim: 9 1. In combination, a caskethaving a rim formed with an upwardly opening groove, a

cover having a rim arranged to seat in said groove with substantially a line contacttherewith throughout the periphery of the casket,

fusible sealing material" disposed in said groove and arranged to support the rim of said cover out of contact with the groove, and ancelectrical heating element carried by the rim of the cover for heating said rim whereby the heat of the rim of said cover may be transferred directly to said fusible sealing material to fuse the same'and permit the rim of said cover to press downwardly through the fused sealing material substantially into contact with the groove in said casket and transfer heat directly to the line of contact therebetween. i

2. In combination, a casket having a rim formed with an upwardly opening groove, a

cover having a bead arranged to seat in said groove with substantially a line contact therewith-throughout the periphery of the casket,

fusible sealing material disposed in said groove and arranged to support the bead of said cover outof contact-with the groove, and an electrical heatingelement in the head for heating the bead ofsaid cover whereby the 

